Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Regional Council for European Integration
Regional Adminsitration - Gabrovo
Background
Regional Administration Gabrovo bears in mind that citizens cannot just support every effort for European integration, if they do not have detailed information about the European Union. There are situations when even officers from state institutions are not aware of all information about the process of Euro-integration of Bulgaria. None of the institutions are able to re-structure fast, locate and solve any particular obstacle in the course of this process. The independent effort and activities of both the regional administration and the municipalities is not fully effective and shows no clear results. An appropriate solution is to create a Regional Council on European Integration; the Council would provoke and activate every potential of regional and local authorities and administration officers should pass specific trainings in this area.
Regional Administration Gabrovo bears in mind that citizens cannot just support every effort for European integration, if they do not have detailed information about the European Union. There are situations when even officers from state institutions are not aware of all information about the process of Euro-integration of Bulgaria. None of the institutions are able to re-structure fast, locate and solve any particular obstacle in the course of this process. The independent effort and activities of both the regional administration and the municipalities is not fully effective and shows no clear results. An appropriate solution is to create a Regional Council on European Integration; the Council would provoke and activate every potential of regional and local authorities and administration officers should pass specific trainings in this area.
Practice
The Regional Council for European Integration was founded on January 23 2002 in Gabrovo; chairman is the Regional Governor of Gabrovo region. Founders of the Council are mayors and chairmen of the the municipal councils of Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Tryavna and Dryanovo. According to them integration is possible only after similar processes on a local basis. Their wish is to achieve the highest level of administrative efficiency at the moment of obtaining full membership and to initiate active contacts with The Committee of Regions. The Council will put the project and its activities much closer to citizens, introducing the partnership approach and dialogue in every action and joint efforts in achieving its mission: Gabrovo Region European region in the heart of Bulgaria .
The ceremony of founding the Council was attended by Mr Kristof Shtok, second secretary of political matters in the Delegation of European Commission in Bulgaria, who demonstrated support on behalf of the European Commission. The Council strives for developing a good regional model as an example for other regions.
The goals are:
1. to receive all necessary information and understanding the European idea for all citizens and institutions in the Gabrovo Region.
2. to organize educational initiatives about structures of the European union, their functions and programs.
3. to train a large number of public individuals in Gabrovo in the expanding process of accession and future membership of Bulgaria.
4. to stimulate every initiative within the municipality leading to an improved image of Gabrovo Region as an European area.
5. to create operational contacts with state departments, responsible for the euro-integration of Bulgaria.
6. to attract NGOs to Gabrovo Region for practical work with the Council.
One priority of the Council is initiating active participation and work in various agencies and programs of the European Union, which are open to applying countries and provide useful information and support.
An expert unit has been created within the structure of the Council mainly aiming at developing and organizing projects and supporting the activity of the Council. Another priority is strengthening the administrative potentials for more efficient utilization of pre-accession funds, and after full membership the structural funds of EU.
The Council will lay out good efforts for constant and step-by-step informing of all social groups in Bulgaria (including NGO s, traders, business organizations) about the process of negotiations, duties and rights, consequent from the full membership in EU.
The Regional Council for European Integration was founded on January 23 2002 in Gabrovo; chairman is the Regional Governor of Gabrovo region. Founders of the Council are mayors and chairmen of the the municipal councils of Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Tryavna and Dryanovo. According to them integration is possible only after similar processes on a local basis. Their wish is to achieve the highest level of administrative efficiency at the moment of obtaining full membership and to initiate active contacts with The Committee of Regions. The Council will put the project and its activities much closer to citizens, introducing the partnership approach and dialogue in every action and joint efforts in achieving its mission: Gabrovo Region European region in the heart of Bulgaria .
The ceremony of founding the Council was attended by Mr Kristof Shtok, second secretary of political matters in the Delegation of European Commission in Bulgaria, who demonstrated support on behalf of the European Commission. The Council strives for developing a good regional model as an example for other regions.
The goals are:
1. to receive all necessary information and understanding the European idea for all citizens and institutions in the Gabrovo Region.
2. to organize educational initiatives about structures of the European union, their functions and programs.
3. to train a large number of public individuals in Gabrovo in the expanding process of accession and future membership of Bulgaria.
4. to stimulate every initiative within the municipality leading to an improved image of Gabrovo Region as an European area.
5. to create operational contacts with state departments, responsible for the euro-integration of Bulgaria.
6. to attract NGOs to Gabrovo Region for practical work with the Council.
One priority of the Council is initiating active participation and work in various agencies and programs of the European Union, which are open to applying countries and provide useful information and support.
An expert unit has been created within the structure of the Council mainly aiming at developing and organizing projects and supporting the activity of the Council. Another priority is strengthening the administrative potentials for more efficient utilization of pre-accession funds, and after full membership the structural funds of EU.
The Council will lay out good efforts for constant and step-by-step informing of all social groups in Bulgaria (including NGO s, traders, business organizations) about the process of negotiations, duties and rights, consequent from the full membership in EU.
Results
The successful realization of the Council for euro-integration and the future accession of Bulgaria to the European Union would stimulate the structures on local basis as well as the main actors in public life in Gabrovo to accept and respond adequately to challenges of this membership. If appropriate regional and local structures working together are created at this stage, Bulgaria would be able to participate efficiently in all structures of EU regarding different regions of member countries.
The successful realization of the Council for euro-integration and the future accession of Bulgaria to the European Union would stimulate the structures on local basis as well as the main actors in public life in Gabrovo to accept and respond adequately to challenges of this membership. If appropriate regional and local structures working together are created at this stage, Bulgaria would be able to participate efficiently in all structures of EU regarding different regions of member countries.
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